alarm 1 of 2

variants also alarum
Definition of alarmnext
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alarm

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verb

variants also alarum
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word alarm distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of alarm are dread, fear, fright, panic, terror, and trepidation. While all these words mean "painful agitation in the presence or anticipation of danger," alarm suggests a sudden and intense awareness of immediate danger.

view the situation with alarm

When is dread a more appropriate choice than alarm?

The words dread and alarm can be used in similar contexts, but dread usually adds the idea of intense reluctance to face or meet a person or situation and suggests aversion as well as anxiety.

faced the meeting with dread

When can fear be used instead of alarm?

While the synonyms fear and alarm are close in meaning, fear is the most general term and implies anxiety and usually loss of courage.

fear of the unknown

When might fright be a better fit than alarm?

The synonyms fright and alarm are sometimes interchangeable, but fright implies the shock of sudden, startling fear.

fright at being awakened suddenly

Where would panic be a reasonable alternative to alarm?

In some situations, the words panic and alarm are roughly equivalent. However, panic implies unreasoning and overmastering fear causing hysterical activity.

the news caused widespread panic

When would terror be a good substitute for alarm?

The meanings of terror and alarm largely overlap; however, terror implies the most extreme degree of fear.

immobilized with terror

How do trepidation and dread relate to one another, in the sense of alarm?

Trepidation adds to dread the implications of timidity, trembling, and hesitation.

raised the subject with trepidation

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alarm
Noun
With the alarms blaring, the DODC agents discover the hole in the ceiling and see Simon and Trevor escaping into the night. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026 That’s a frightening type of alarm for a certain kind of person. Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
Only then can alarm systems fulfill their intended purpose – supporting crews, safeguarding lives, and ensuring safer voyages for all. New Atlas, 24 Jan. 2026 Testasecca later told authorities that the calls alarmed him immediately. Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for alarm
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alarm
Noun
  • Suffused with dread and bathed in reverb, the record captures two virtuosos at their most vulnerable.
    Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Jan. 2026
  • The dread of blacklisting among cast and crew members who jump from job to job in the entertainment industry isn’t unique to The Cleaning Lady.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities previously issued warnings after multiple people reported animal sightings near the hotel the day before, according to Jam Press.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Rather than simply issuing audible or visual warnings, the car may adjust cabin lighting, seat position, climate control, or gradually come to a complete stop automatically.
    Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • His greatest fear is summer — when warm weather could bring even larger crowds if enforcement is still ongoing.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Students without legal status couldn’t speak out without fear of deportation, and universities were rushing to determine how to implement the ruling.
    Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Would honking unnecessarily scare residents who are already afraid?
    Tim Sullivan, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Most of that money would go to compensate ranchers for cattle eaten by wolves and for guard dogs, scaring devices or other means to keep them away from livestock.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But absent any concerning signs that the labor market is falling a cliff, the Fed will also likely turn to inflation data for the cue on when to lower rates again.
    Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Well, within the past year, professionals who have sought to advance their careers through ongoing training and development are turning to a non-technical AI skill, one that fundamentally shapes the future of work even outside of IT, as far as AI is concerned.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Apple has been caught in the fray on worries that a tight memory cycle will eat into hardware gross margins, given that products such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and Macs heavily use DRAM and NAND flash memory.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 29 Jan. 2026
  • There are significant worries that AI can readily go off the rails or otherwise dispense unsuitable or even egregiously inappropriate mental health advice.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This year, anxiety over the federal government and a wavering stock market is making people less secure in their finances, causing some tenants to move in with family or friends — leaving studio and one-bedroom apartments empty.
    Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
  • The nonprofit, formerly known as Sattvic Meals Foundation, aims to address hunger anxiety at community colleges.
    Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Fernando Najera, director of the California Carnivores Program at UC Davis, said that recent experience showed that mountain lions can learn not to be afraid of technology that once worked to frighten them away from people and livestock.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Her hysteria frightens me and demands to be taken care of.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Alarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alarm. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

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